HEATHER MEADE/Advocate Photo
The Darke County Cattleman’s Association recognize the importance of Darke County’s youth to the future of agriculture; as such, they honored several Darke County youth with scholarships and herdsman awards at Monday evening’s annual banquet. Pictured (back row from left) are Isaac Gehret, second Jr. Herdsman; Chris Goettemoeller, Sr. Herdsman and scholarship recipient; Janel Gilbert, scholarship recipient; Maci Snyder, Darke County Cattleman’s Association 2013 queen; Kelsey Crandall, second Sr. Herdsman; (front row) Ian Gehret, third Jr. Herdsman; Kaylee Wilcox, Jr. Herdsman; and Marlee Hess, third Sr. Herdsman.
GREENVILLE - The Darke County Cattleman’s Association gathered Monday evening for their annual banquet to have fellowship, elect officers, and award their youth members with scholarships, herdsman awards, and to crown the 2013 Darke County Cattleman’s Association Queen, Maci Snyder.
With nearly 100 in attendance to support Darke County’s 4-H and FFA programs, the Darke County Cattleman’s Association voted to re-elect Tom Crandall to the board of directors, and to vote in Roy White. Greg Hess and Brad Wilcox will no longer serve on the board of directors, and with only one candidate, they still have a position to fill, which they will do at a later time.
Two $500 scholarships were given out, one to Chris Goettemoeller, son of Gary and Pam Goettemoeller, and one to Janel Gilbert, daughter of Dr. Chris and Judy Gilbert. Senior and junior herdsman awards were given to Kalyee Wilcox, Jr. Herdsman; Isaac Gehret, second Jr. Herdsman; Ian Gehret, third Jr. Herdsman; Chris Goettemoeller, Sr. Herdsman; Kelsey Crandall, second Sr. Herdsman; and Marlee Hess, third Sr. Herdsman. The 2012 Director’s Award went to Steve Beanblossom.
Matt Aultman was the guest speaker for the evening. Aultman, who works at Keller Grain and Feeds, commented that Darke County is fortunate not to have to question their feed sources, but farmers still need to be careful what they’re feeding their livestock, because after last fall, aflatoxin levels are increased, and even 3,500 parts per million can be detrimental to livestock health, he said.
A new generation of youth is in place in Darke County, Aultman commented, and that’s important to the future of agriculture. Parents have passed their agricultural knowledge down to their children, who will hopefully stay in Darke County to pass it on to the next generation, making Darke County a better place, he said.
Aultman shared an anecdote, one that he keeps on his monitor at work, the moral of which boils down to the fact that what a person does with his or her life is important, because they’re trading their time and resources to do that; “I try to live that every day,” Aultman said. Aultman left the group with a final thought, “If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you don’t have time for the big stuff.”